SRI AUROBINDO’S THEORY OF NATIONAL EDUCATION: AN INTEGRAL PART OF HIS NATIONALISM

Abstract

“The prophet of nationalism and the lover of humanity” (Bose 140). Sri Aurobindo returned to India in February 1893 after fourteen years in England and started working with the Baroda State Service. Once back, he dedicated himself to studying ancient Indian languages, literature, and scriptures. His strong grasp of India’s political scene and his passion for Nationalism prompted him to engage in the national liberation movement, initially through his literary and political writings. When he entered the Indian political arena, it was largely led by moderate Congress figures who rarely recognised the importance of mass involvement in the national movement. As a result, Sri Aurobindo, together with Bepin Chandra Pal and Bal Gangadhar Tilak, pioneered New Nationalism, marking a significant step toward his goal. Sri Aurobindo’s view on nationalism was unique. He declared, “Nationalism is not a mere political programme; Nationalism is a religion that has come from God” (Sri Aurobindo, On Nationalism 251). In April 1906, Sri Aurobindo moved to Calcutta and took charge of Bande Mataram (1906-1908). As the first Indian political leader to advocate for Swaraj, or complete independence from British rule, he inspired great enthusiasm among the masses. In response to Lord Curzon’s Bengal Partition Policy, Aurobindo advocated for Swadeshi, Boycott, and National Education as means to achieve Swaraj. The Swadeshi ideal was promoted through the rejection of foreign ideas, themes, culture, and goods. Aurobindo remarked, “If we refuse to supply our needs from foreign sources, we must obviously supply them ourselves; we cannot have the industrial boycott without Swadeshi and the expansion of indigenous industries” (Sri Aurobindo, The Doctrine of Passive Resistance 39). At that time, the decision to expand native industrial products and abandon foreign ones was a key aspect of the ‘Swadeshi-Boycott’ movement. Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy established the Bengal Chemical, and Dr. Nilratan Sarkar founded the National Soap Factory. Meanwhile, Bengali students and teachers boycotted English schools. A proposal was made in Calcutta to establish the National Education Council to promote national education. On August 14, 1906, Bengal National College was founded in Calcutta, recruiting Sri Aurobindo as the principal of that college. Sri Aurobindo’s national education policy was an integral part of his idea of nationalism. Later, he introduced his theory of education in the article named “A Preface on National Education”, first published in Arya, a monthly journal in 1920 – 1921. According to him, National Education is that which will be established “in a national way and under national control” (Sri Aurobindo, Bande Mataram 817).